IEHA Launches ICM Module

The International Executive Housekeepers Association's (IEHA) Integrated Cleaning and Measurement (ICM) Module (Version 1.0) was launched at ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America 2011, Las Vegas, October 18th - 21st. IEHA's goal in developing the ICM Module is to provide cleaning professionals with the skills to expertly measure processes and practices, better the performance of their cleaning organizations as a whole and to position themselves for success.

ICM is an open-source system — owned and administered by the non-profit IEHA — that integrates measurement into cleaning processes to enable data-driven and verifiable improvements in cleaning outcomes through the use of measurement tools and well-chosen metrics. Examples of improvements driven by associated metrics include enhanced productivity based on time studies, and improved levels of cleanliness determined using measurement devices such as ATP meters or particle counters. By integrating measurement into systems of cleaning, ICM enables a cycle of continuous improvement.

IEHA will provide general public access to ICM information on Wikipedia (coming soon) and the availability of the full draft open-source ICM Module (Version 1) on a separate IEHA ICM Wiki.

"The open-source nature of ICM means the ICM Module itself should be a constantly changing and dynamic public document," said Beth Risinger, CEO and Executive Director of IEHA. "The ICM Module exam will be strictly controlled, proprietary and updated every two years based on ongoing public improvement of the Module."

The five-unit draft ICM Module — which will provide the basis for a knowledge and skills-based measurement certification — consists of:
Unit 1: What is ICM?
Unit 2: The Importance of Measurement
Unit 3: Types of Measurement
Unit 4: Benefits of ICM
Unit 5: ICM and the Cleaning Industry

IEHA also recently piloted an ICM Field Lab Program with UMass Lowell and the University of WA in Seattle to provide additional scope and information for both the ICM and UMass Lowell TURI High Performance Cleaning Product (HPCP) programs.